Effect of current density on nickel powder production using electrodeposition in NiCl2-NiSO4-H3BO3 solution

This research aims to produce nickel powder and to investigate the effect of current density on morphology, powder size, weight, chemical composition, and current efficiency of the electrodeposition. The electrodeposition was conducted in NiSO4, NiCl2, and H3BO3 solutions. The nickel and stainless steel were used as an anode and cathode, respectively. The morphology and powder size were characterized using optical microscope and SEM, the chemical composition was characterized using EDS, the weight and the current efficiency were investigated. The result shows that nickel powder is successfully produced using electrodeposition in NiSO4, NiCl2, and H3BO3. The current density affects the morphology, powder size, weight, and current efficiency. The results show that the morphology of the nickel powder is flaky, angular, and irregular. The nickel powder sizes are 3 µm up to 500 µm. It states that the higher current density generates the higher current efficiency, smaller powder size, and more dispersed.